Toy.



C. W. WILSON.

TOY.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 12, 1909. RENEWED OUT. 23, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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TOY. APPLICATION FILED 11.12, 1909. RENEWED 0012 3, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES W. WILSON, EDGEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedFeb. 6,1912.

Application filed April 12, 1909, Serial No. 489,383. Renewed October 23, 1911. Serial No. 656,219.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. WILSON, citizen of -the United States, residing at Edgewood, in the county of Eflingham and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in .toys and embraces the construct-ion of a toy consisting of a series of flexibly united blocks bearing pictures or formed to simulate miniature men.

One of the objects of the invention is the construction of a toy, consisting 'of a'series of flexibly united tumbling blocks, simulating miniature men, so arranged that the falling of one block against the other will produce a novel and amusing effect.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the blocks extended, Fig. 2 .is aside elevation showing the blocks in angular positions relative to each other, or ready to be tumbled, Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the blocks in extended positions, Fig. 4 is a side elevation showmg three of the blocks in line with each other and one of the blocks at right angles to the three blocks, in position to be tumbled, and Fig. 5 is a perspective viewshowing the toy partly collapsed.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings illustrating the invention 1 denotes the top or upper block, 2 the next or adjoining block, 3 the third block, which adjoins 2, and 4 the lower or last block, which adjoins 3. The three upper blocks, 1, 2'and 3 are preferably formed to simulate miniature men. The blocks 1 and 2 are legs 5 and 6, respectively, whlch are spaced apart to form approximately V-shaped spaces. The block 3 is provided with legs 10 and 11, like the legs of the blocks 1 and 2. The block 2 is formed with a rounded portion or head 7 which abuts against the terminals of the legs 5, and the block 3 is formed with a rounded portion or head 8 i which abuts against the legs' 6. The lower block 4 is formed with a rounded end 9 which abuts against the legs 10 and 11 of rovided with the block 3, and with .an inwardly curved portion 12.

In order to unite the four blocks together three tapes, flexible in nature, are used. A central tape 13 is secured to the rounded head 9 of the lower block, engages one side of the block 3, is passed between the legs of the block 2 and engages the side of the block 2 opposite the side of the block 3 engaged by the tape. The central tape 13 is then passed between the legs 5 of the block 1 and engages the side of this block opposite to the side engaged on the block 2,

or like the side engaged on the block3, and- .is secured at its upper end to the head or rounded portion of the block 1, which head or rounded portion is like that of the blocks 2 and 3. It will thus be seen that'the tape engages with alternate sides of the blocks. Screws 2O serve to hold the ends of the tape to the blocks 4 and 1, and to the upper ends of the blocks 3and 2, as shown 1n Fig. 2.'

In addition to the central tape '13 two other tapes 14 and 15 are employed. Both of these tapes are secured to the lower ends of the block 4 at points outwardly of the point where the central tape 13 is fastened. The tapes 14 and 15 then engage the side of the lower block 4 and are fastened to the terminals of the legs of the block 3, engaging one side of this block, opposite to the side engaged on the lower block by the two tapes. The tapes are then fastened by screws 20, which fasten the tapes at all points where they are secured, to the terminals of the legs 6 of the block 2, and engaging one side of the block 2 extend above this block to engage with the terminals of the legs 5 of the block 1.

When the toy is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the upper block 1 is tilted in the manner shown in Fig. 2 the three lower blocks or men will tumble on the holding tapes so as to occupy inverted positions thereon. By repeating the operation the men or blocks maybe caused to resume their former positions, and by again repeating the operation the blocks may again be inverted, and so on indefinitely. The blocksmay be arranged to represent men, animals or birds, and may be arranged to represent different figures of a comical; group. As the blocks are so formed that the engaging ends have excellent bearings and a single tape extends centrally of the-blocks, the operation of the toy is rendered veryeasy.

- I claim In a tumbling toy, a seriesof blocks the 5 larger portion of the blocks havin rounded heads and spaced 1e s, a centra tape secured to the lower b ock at its upper end, engagin alternate sides of the intermediate bloc s and secured to the upper end of 0 the upper block, said tape crossmg the intermediate blocks and being secured to the said blocks at the u per ends thereof, and

tapes on each side 0' the central ta e, said tapes having their lower ends secure to they lower end ofthelower block and their u per ends secured to the leg" terminals of t 6 upper blocks, said tapes crossing the inter medlate blocks and engagin with alternate CHARLES W. WILSON. Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. GOLN, CLAYTON Paox; 

